Tag Archives: trademark

One Haas impersonating another is TM infringement, false advertising

Posted on March 21, 2016 by rtushnet

Haas Door Co. v. Haas Garage Door Co., No. 3:13 CV 2507, 2016 WL 1047242 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 16, 2016)   A family-owned business split, and split a trademark, and then things went bad.   Founded in 1953, Haas Door … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Porn site’s use of TMs in metatags not confusing

Posted on March 21, 2016 by rtushnet

Multifab, Inc. v. ArlanaGreen.com, 122 F. Supp. 3d 1055 (E.D. Wash. 2015)   Plaintiff made commercial industrial components and equipment, and used the name “Multifab” for at least 25 years.  It has the multifabinc.com domain name. ArlanaGreen.com features pornographic images … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

I don’t go into yours, you don’t go into mine: copyright preempts Dirty Dancing trademark claim

Posted on March 15, 2016 by rtushnet

I don’t go into yours, you don’t go into mine: copyright preempts Dirty Dancing trademark claim   Lions Gate Ent. Inc. v. TD Ameritrade Servs. Co., No. cv 15-05024  (C.D. Cal. Mar. 14, 2016)   Lions Gate sued TD for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Reading list: dilution fails an empirical test

Posted on March 14, 2016 by rtushnet

Christo Boshoff , The lady doth protest too much: a neurophysiological perspective on brand tarnishment, 25 J. Product & Brand Management (2016):   [C]onsumers’ emotional responses to a series of brand tarnishment advertisements are investigated in this study. The purpose … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Private Law and IP: Licensing I

Posted on March 11, 2016 by rtushnet

Session 3: Licensing I Moderator: Yonathan Arbel Jonathan M. Barnett, “Why is Everyone Afraid of IP Licensing?”: Conventional view—be wary of encroachment on public domain from licensing transactions.  Medley of limitations lay minefield for construction of transactions w/minimum legal risk.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Alleged Amazon shenanigans constitute use in commerce and commercial advertising/promotion

Posted on March 9, 2016 by rtushnet

Jae Enterprises, Inc. v. OxGord Inc., 2016 WL 865328, No. 15-CV-228 (W.D. Ky. Mar. 2, 2016)   Jae sells aftermarket automobile accessories under the mark Eagle Flight and designs. Jae entered into a distribution agreement with defendants, who resold the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My forthcoming article on 2(a) and the First Amendment

Posted on March 9, 2016 by rtushnet

Rebecca Tushnet, The First Amendment Walks into a Bar: Trademark Registration and Free Speech, Notre Dame Law Review (forthcoming)  This Essay analyzes the First Amendment arguments against §2(a)’s disparagement bar with reference to the consequences of any invalidation on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Buddy, can you spare a TRO? No injunction for overlapping use of “big” and “hunting”

Posted on March 8, 2016 by rtushnet

Enerco Group, Inc. v. Deutsch, No. 16CV213, 2016 WL 852572 (N.D. Ohio Mar. 3, 2016)   Enerco sued Deutsch for false advertising and trademark infringement.  Enerco makes portable propane heaters called “Buddy Heaters,” used by outdoorsmen and fishermen in enclosures … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Land o’ (non)confusion: no dilution or reverse confusion with dissimilar goods

Posted on March 4, 2016 by rtushnet

Hugunin v. Land O’ Lakes, Inc., No. 15-2815 (7th Cir. Mar. 1, 2016)   This opinion reflects what you might call Judge Posner’s trademark mix of good sense and arrogance/lack of reasons enabling one to formulate an actual rule for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Trademark defendant wins rare unclean hands defense to injunction

Posted on March 3, 2016 by rtushnet

Cochran Firm, P.C. v. Cochran Firm Los Angeles LLP, — Fed.Appx. —, 2016 WL 770129, No. 15–55816 (9th Cir. Feb. 29, 2016)   A rare unclean hands win for a trademark defendant!  The Cochran Firm appealed the district court’s order … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment